Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2024

My first Annual Report as Director of Public Health in Powys describes the health of the population of Powys and sets out the key health challenges facing our population as a whole, and some of the opportunities I see to address them.

Based on current trends in 15 years’ time over a third of population of Powys will be aged 65 years and over, with a decrease in the proportion who are of working age – those who provide the health and social care.

The experiences each of us have as we age will be dependent on our health and wellbeing. As we live longer, more of us are living with chronic conditions that negatively impact on our quality of life for many years. Much of this is preventable provided individuals do as much as they can to make healthy choices, alongside concerted local and national action at population level to support healthy ageing.

In the current economic context, the challenge for us all is to ensure that short term imperatives don’t detract from our goal of better health and wellbeing. As such, it’s important that we all take action to build good health and to stay well as we age and
give our children the best start in life.

‘The greatest wealth is health’ is a quote attributed to the Roman poet Virgil. We need a concerted and collective preventative approach, one which gives children and young people the best start in life and promotes healthy and active ageing for everyone
in Powys.

The report sets out calls for action for individuals and organisations. It’s important that we act now. By working together to deliver the actions in this report we can prevent ill health, and live healthier, longer lives.

Mererid Bowley, Executive Director of Public Health, Powys Teaching Health Board